Man Utd 3-1 Tottenham
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to put Manchester United into the
last 16 of the FA Cup after an entertaining tie. Wayne Rooney
cleared Dimitar Berbatov's header off the line before Robbie Keane
converted Aaron Lennon's cross to put Tottenham ahead in a lively
first half.
Ryan Giggs teed up Carlos Tevez to level but Edwin van der Sar
superbly denied Jermaine Jenas before half-time. Ronaldo netted a
penalty after Michael Dawson saw red for deliberate handball and he
fired in the third near the end.
It continued United's long unbeaten run at home against Spurs -
which began in December 1989 - and was no less than the Premier
League champions deserved after a dominant second-half display.
They were tested, however, during an opening 45 minutes which
featured plenty to admire from two sides that have won the Cup 19
times between them.
For all their fluid movements, the home team often lacked a telling
final ball and Spurs drew encouragement from the success they had
in containing the lethal triumvirate of Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo.
Indeed, the visitors came desperately close to an opener in the
15th minute when Berbatov headed Lennon's corner goalwards, only to
be thwarted by Rooney on the line.
The warning signs were there for the favourites and when a raking
pass from Dawson was collected by Lennon, the winger's cross was
met by Keane, who ghosted past the centre-halves to claim his
fourth strike in as many games. United responded with predictable
vigour and after Cerny tipped over a fierce Ryan Giggs strike from
the edge of the area they were deservedly level.
